MPTA Legislative Day 2013

The Missouri Public Transit Association hosted its 2013 Annual Legislative Day at the Missouri Capitol yesterday, January 29, 2013. Many transit leaders from across the State of Missouri traveled to Jefferson City to meet with their legislators to encourage support for dedicated funding for public transportation. To strengthen our message, MPTA leadership met with the following key leaders to hear their position on public transportation and to communicate statewide need for a funding solution:

Senator Mike Kehoe

Kit Crancer, Senator Tom Dempsey’s Office

Representative Chris Kelly

House Speaker Tim Jones

Now is the time to add your voice. If you did not participate in the Capitol visits, please take time today or tomorrow to write letters to the key leaders listed below and send a letter or email with your message to each of your own legislators. There are a number of proposals being discussed and not all of the proposals include dedication funds for public transportation.

Take action now!

MPTA Priorities:

In the 2013 Missouri Legislative Session, MPTA will be focusing its efforts on several priorities:

Support MoDOT's request for $5.5 million for transit operations - $560,875 for State Transit Assistance (from State Transportation Fund); $2,500,000 for expanded State Transit Assistance (from General Revenue); and $2,486,607 for Missouri Elderly & Handicapped Transportation Assistance Program (from both General Revenue and the State Transportation Fund). These funds will be distributed by the allocation method included in SB 173 that created new statute 226.195 RSMo. Currently, there are seven (7) urbanized transit agencies and 26 rural public transit providers that receive these funds.

In Fiscal Year 2010 the transit appropriation from the state was $4.015 million, which included $3.200 million in general revenue and $.814 million in state transportation funds. The general assembly then passed a Fiscal Year 2011 budget which included $3.601 million in transit funding. Of this amount, all general revenue was withheld leaving $560,875 in state transportation funds. This withhold became a permanent cut in the Fiscal Year 2012 and 2013 budgets. This has significantly limited what services we can provide and has resulted in riders, already dealing with very limited resources, paying more of the cost of their transportation. It is imperative that we reverse this trend. The new appropriation of $2.5 million would move us in that direction.

Ensure inclusion of transit capital projects/public transit in any infrastructure bond or funding package that could move forward at the state level. Public transit needs to be a key component of Missouri's infrastructure plans moving forward.

Support legislation that expands the crime of assault of an on-duty public transit employee to the same level of offense as the assault of a public safety employee.

Explore new avenues for support for transit/Transit Oriented Development in Missouri.

As you may know, the Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation released its report this week. Bill McKenna reiterated it was the intent of the Commission to determine the needs within the State and discuss solutions. Over 800 individuals attended the various meetings held around the Missouri area with over 200 people providing testimony. Mr. McKenna noted the following key points that emerged from the process: 1) We need to take care of the existing infrastructure; 2) MoDOT is funded more like a roads and bridges department rather than an all transportation mode department; 3) Safety continues to be increasingly important; and 4) There are hundreds of unfunded projects in every area of the State.

Please email or write a letter to the Governor and your state and locally elected officials pushing for state support of transit, funding for transit, and expansion of our current system. Join us at upcoming events at the Capital to talk personally with your representatives. The first event will be January 29, when MPTA members and supporters are convening at the Capitol to visit legislators as part of MPTA's Transportation Day. Elected officials must hear from you, as their constituents, that transit is important to Missouri's economy. Below is a flyer to use for reference points in your letter and/or meetings. Also provided is a case statement for public transportation for sharing or referencing in your correspondence and conversations. You may also use MPTA's letter to the Governor as a template for a letter from you and/or your board.

Please contact these key legislators in addition to your own representatives and senators: